Proton Therapy Expands Treatment Options for Cancer Patients

Bruce Haffty, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University

Proton therapy has been part of the cancer treatment conversation since the mid 1950s and was only available for very limited use until recently. The recent arrival of the Laurie Proton Therapy Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - the first proton beam radiation treatment center of its kind in the New Jersey and New York region - represents a significant advance in the range of cancer treatment options that are currently available to New Jersey and New York residents.

There are differences between standard radiation treatment and proton therapy. Understanding how proton therapy works and how it can benefit the patient, is extremely important when creating a treatment plan for you or your loved one. In recognition of the new technology now available at RWJUH and the questions and curiosity surrounding proton therapy, I’ve decided to address some of the common questions that you may have when considering this treatment option. I urge those in your life with cancer to discuss these questions with their physician to make sure they have all of the information they need to comfortably make the right treatment choices.

1. What is proton therapy and how does proton therapy work in relation to other mainstream radiation therapy and chemotherapy?

Proton therapy is the most precise and advanced form of radiation treatment today. Proton therapy provides targeted treatment to cancer cells and causes less damage to surrounding healthy tissues than photon radiation, making it an ideal option for pediatric and adult patients with tumors in sensitive locations, such as near the heart, brain and spine. It primarily radiates the tumor site, leaving surrounding healthy tissue and organs intact. Conventional X-ray radiation often radiates healthy tissue in its path and surrounding the tumor site. Chemotherapy moves throughout the entire body, unlike radiation and surgery which are considered “site-specific” treatments.

2. What are the side effects from proton therapy?

Proton therapy can often be associated with lower rates of side effects when compared to conventional radiation therapy. Protons have unique properties in tissue that allow for lower or no “incidental” radiation to non-target tissues. The minimized normal-tissue exposure can result in fewer effects following treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. This is an important milestone in cancer therapy for patients in this region. We can now treat patients with fewer side effects with a very targeted form of radiation therapy. These patients can experience a better quality of life during and after proton treatment.

3. What kinds of tumors are best treated by proton therapy?

Proton therapy is most appropriate for tumors that are localized and have not spread to distant areas of the body.

4. Can proton therapy be used in conjunction with other forms of cancer treatment?

Yes. Depending on the case, proton therapy may be used in combination with traditional radiation, chemotherapy and/or as a follow-up to surgery.

5. How long has proton therapy been in use for medical purposes?

Proton therapy was first proposed in 1954, but primarily had been available for very limited use. There were no hospital-based treatment centers in the world until the Proton Treatment Center opened in 1990 at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Building a proton center can be an expensive endeavor for most universities and academic medical centers. Most radiation oncologists know about proton therapy, but have not had experience working with the proton technology, making it difficult for them to advise patients on this form of treatment. But the benefits of proton treatment are expanding and the cutting-edge improvements in technology now available at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital have allowed us to build the center in a much smaller space at a more affordable cost. This latest generation of the technology allows academic medical centers like Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to offer this technology on the same campus and alongside the full range of cancer services in the center of a city such as New Brunswick

6. How long does proton therapy take? How soon will I know if the treatment is successful?

Proton therapy can take anywhere from one day to seven weeks depending on the tumor site. With most cancer cases, success is determined if the cancer does not re-occur within five years after treatment.

7. Is it covered by most insurance plans?

Nearly all insurance providers nationwide cover proton therapy as does the U.S. Medicare program.

Proton therapy is an excellent addition to the breadth of cancer treatment destination therapies that are available to patients, and now offered at RWJUH for patients in the Tri-State area. If you or a loved one is battling cancer, I encourage you to have a conversation with your physician and explore all of the treatment options available. For more information on proton therapy at RWJUH, please visit http://www.rwjuh.edu/proton-therapy/proton-therapy.aspx.